This chicken wild rice soup is creamy, hearty, and easy to make in one pot. It's packed with tender chicken, wild rice, and vegetables, making it the perfect comfort food for cold days or simple family dinners.
This creamy chicken wild rice soup is one of the easiest ways to make a cozy soup at home. Using a wild rice blend keeps the texture just right while still giving you that classic depth of flavor.
The best part is that it works with rotisserie chicken or leftover chicken, making it a great way to use what you already have from the grocery store.
If you enjoy cozy recipes like this, you might also like Chicken and Gnocchi Soup or Instant Pot Cheeseburger Soup.
Why You'll Love This Chicken Wild Rice Soup
- Creamy chicken soup with a rich, flavorful broth
- Made with simple ingredients from the grocery store
- Uses cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken for a great shortcut
- Easy to make in a large pot or dutch oven
- A hearty soup perfect for a cold day
Ingredients for Chicken Wild Rice Soup
- 5 cups chicken broth or chicken stock
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup wild rice blend (uncooked)
- 1 ½ cups cooked shredded chicken
- ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup spinach
- Optional: splash of lemon juice
How to Make Chicken Wild Rice Soup
- In a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat, melt butter. Add the diced onion, celery, and carrots. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir to coat. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring often, to remove the raw flour taste.
- Slowly pour in the chicken broth while stirring. Add the wild rice blend, poultry seasoning, kosher salt, and black pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer.
- Let the soup simmer for 40-45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the wild rice is tender and fully cooked.
- Stir in the shredded chicken and heavy cream. Simmer for another 5-10 minutes until heated through and slightly thickened.
- Stir in the spinach at the end of the cooking time and let it wilt. Taste and add additional salt if needed. Add a small splash of lemon juice if desired.
Tips for the Best Chicken Wild Rice Soup
- Cook the wild rice until just tender
Overcooking can cause the rice to split and change the texture of the soup. - Use rotisserie chicken to save time
It's an easy shortcut and adds extra flavor without extra work. - Don't let the soup boil after adding dairy
Keep it at a gentle simmer to prevent the soup from separating. - Adjust the thickness as needed
The soup will thicken as it sits. Add a little broth or milk when reheating to loosen it back up. - Taste and adjust seasoning at the end
A final pinch of salt or pepper can bring everything together.
Variations
- Use whole milk instead of heavy cream for a lighter creamy soup
- Add mushrooms for extra depth of flavor
- Use brown rice if needed, adjusting for a longer cook time
- Make it in a slow cooker or instant pot for convenience
For another cozy option, try Slow Cooker Chicken Chili.
Storage
Store the rest of the soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Keeps well for 3-4 days
- The soup will thicken the next day, so add a little chicken broth when reheating
This makes it a great option for meal prep and easy lunches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use raw chicken or chicken breast. Let it cook in the soup until fully cooked, then remove, shred, and return it to the pot.
Wild rice takes longer to cook than regular rice. Simmer the soup for 40-45 minutes, or until the wild rice is tender.
Yes, rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut for this chicken wild rice soup recipe. It adds flavor and saves time since the chicken is already cooked.
You can use regular rice or brown rice, but the texture will be different. Wild rice gives this soup its signature texture.
Yes, but creamy soup can separate slightly. For best results, freeze the soup before adding the cream and stir it in after reheating
📖 Recipe
Chicken Wild Rice Soup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 cups chicken broth
- 1 onion - diced
- 2 celery stalks - diced
- 2 carrots - diced
- 3 garlic cloves - minced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup wild rice blend
- 1 ½ cups cooked shredded chicken
- ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup spinach
Instructions
- In a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat, melt butter. Add the diced onion, celery, and carrots. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir to coat. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring often, to remove the raw flour taste.
- Slowly pour in the chicken broth while stirring. Add the wild rice blend, poultry seasoning, kosher salt, and black pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer.
- Let the soup simmer for 40-45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the wild rice is tender and fully cooked.
- Stir in the shredded chicken and heavy cream. Simmer for another 5-10 minutes until heated through and slightly thickened.
- Stir in the spinach at the end of the cooking time and let it wilt. Taste and add additional salt if needed. Add a small splash of lemon juice if desired.
Notes
- Use rotisserie chicken for a great shortcut and extra flavor
- Let the wild rice cook fully so it becomes tender, not chewy
- If the soup thickens too much, add a little more chicken broth when reheating
- For a lighter version, you can use whole milk instead of heavy cream
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
© Popular Recipes
Dana is the lead recipe developer and photographer for PopularRecipes.com. With her 10+ years of experience creating, testing, and photographing recipes, she has become an artist in developing wholesome, family-friendly meals that are a hit with both kids and parents.
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